Leashing the Tempest

Arcadia Bell #2.5

by Jenn Bennett

Dating a demon, defeating evil, running a tiki bar: Arcadia Bell is a great occult mage in many respects. But then there’s the challenge of her boyfriend’s precocious teenage son…

Arcadia "Cady" Bell may have saved the Hellfire Club’s children from a local bogeyman, but she and her Earthbound demon boyfriend, Lon Butler, now face a more disturbing problem: his teenage son’s new demonic abilities. Jupe Butler can persuade you to do anything—or so he thinks. To test the limits of his newfound power, Cady invites the co-owner of Tambuku Tiki Lounge to be the teen’s guinea pig during an afternoon boat cruise. But when an angry storm whips the Pacific into a frenzy and Jupe puts them all in serious danger, will Cady's magick trump a teenager’s excess confidence?

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Novella

65 pages, ebook

First published December 17, 2012

About the author

Jenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books for children and teens, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and GRUMBONES. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award nominees, and have been included on annual Best Book lists for both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She lives in a haunted house near Birmingham with one husband and two dogs. Visit her at www.jennbennett.net.

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Reviews

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
The purpose of this e-novella, at least in my eyes, was to make waiting for the May release of Binding the Shadows just a bit easier. Mission accomplished, Ms. Bennett. You gave me a chance to spend some quality time with my favorite characters and if possible, got me even more excited about the upcoming book. In length, Leashing the Tempest is about one-fourth of a book, so it’s definitely worth your $0.99 or 2.99, depending on your location.


Things rarely go as planned for Cady Bell, her Earthbound demon boyfriend Lon and his teenage son Jupe. In this novella, a relaxing one-afternoon boat trip turns into a real adventure when two storms hit their location and an otherworldly creature pays an unexpected visit. Once again, it’s up to Cady and her abilities to save the day.


The plot picked up a bit late, especially for a novella, but I loved that Bennett built it around a mythological creature I’ve never even heard of. Yes, there are still a few out there, and no, I won’t tell you what it is, you’ll have to find out for yourselves. I’ll just point out that I was pleasantly surprised and completely creeped out by this creature. Here, I’ll give you a clue because I’m nice like that.

I’d summoned a few demons with weird appendages: tails, cloven hooves, wings… but I’d never seen a multi-headed demon outside a medieval engraving in a musty goetic tome.

Fortunately, Jenn Bennet unleashed her sense of humor in this one, and of course, most of the humorous remarks came from the teenage Earthbound wonder Jupe and his not-so-secret crush Kar Yee. I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t be affected by Jupe’s innocent charm. Even Lon, who is a pretty strict father, all things considered, lets him get away with almost anything.

Lon and Cady’s wonderful relationship with Jupiter brings me to my favorite thing about Bennett’s books. What sets this series apart from all other urban fantasy series is the family at its center. Even though their stories are told from Cady’s point of view, in first person at that, they are indeed their stories. Every member of the newly formed family is just as important as the other two, and Bennett manages the stories with three equal protagonists beautifully.

The second book in the series, Summoning the Night, found its place among my very few favorite 2012 adult releases. If you like urban fantasy at all, you’ll definitely like this one.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely worth the $.99 to buy this. It was such a fun addition to the series and I absolutely adore Jupe. In fact, Lon, Jupe, and Cady are one of my favorite UF families (so to speak). This series really is fabulous, different and so much fun. Can't wait to read more. Too bad the next book is way over priced on Amazon. :(

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***This mini-review has also been posted on The Social Potato

If you know me, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of the Arcadia Bell series and now that the series has come to an end (the last book was published only a couple weeks ago), I am not sure what to do. It really sucks to close the last page to the last book of one of your favorite series doesn’t it? Well it wasn’t the last page for me because I hadn’t read the novella that came in between books 2 and 3 I will forever be glad that I read it after I finished the series. It really reminded me why I loved the series and it left me with a smile on my face because I got another chance to say goodbye to these characters I had come to love over the past couple of books.

Although, Unleashing the Tempest is a novella, it has a strong plot and the characters are as wonderful as ever. This time they are stranded in the middle of a storm. What was supposed to be a mini-vacation to test Jupe’s new found ability turns into… a disaster. Jupe lands them all in trouble when he unleashes his ability on the captain when riled up (he is 14 :P). What follows is a mess. We are also introduced to a new creature from the Aethyr (which I won’t mention because SPOILERS). Will Cady be able to save the day? Well the answer to that is yes because we already know books 3 and 4 takes place after that but it was still fun to see Cady and Lon cooperate to save the day.

Lon and Cady are at their best and really make you smile with how great a couple they are. Jupe and Kar-Yee won’t fail to make you laugh either.

Really, if you haven’t picked up this series, you need to do so now.

[Christen (GoldiloxReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bennett's Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and this short novella is just enough to whet my whistle until book three releases in the spring. Reading this just reminded me (like I could even forget) what a gem this series is. There are all the best elements of urban fantasy but set in a beautiful California setting and with a unique laid back sense of humor.

In this novella, Cady, Lon, Jupe, and Kar Yee have chartered a yacht and plan to spend the day at sea testing out the scope and limitations of Jupe's newfound knack. All the best parts of the series are here in miniature and fans of the series will be happy to find that there is a small question from books one and two answered in this novella (nothing earth shattering, but it was nice to have the connection to the other books nonetheless).

The captain in charge of the boat is a nice addition to the gang, even though he is certainly keeping some secrets. He kind of reminded me of a portly version of Captain Ron from the early nineties movie!

Be forewarned, this one is short even for a novella. Its 65 pages and I read it in about an hour. The good news is that its only .99 at Amazon so there's really no reason not to check it out (there's a link to Amazon above)!

Recommended for fans of: the Aracdia Bell series, urban fantasy, novellas, novels with magic users, and pirate mustaches.

This review is based on an advance copy of the book, provided by the author.

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cleverly written addition to the Arcadia Bell series, not necessary but fabulous all the same.

Lon and Cady decide to take Jupe on a yacht with Cady's friend, and co-owner of their club, Kar Yee. Kar Yee has agreed to be the subject of an experiment, to test Jupe's knack, of course Jupe is thrilled because he is crushing on Kar Yee!

Cady usually has bigger beasts to contend with but while this short story provides us with a dead demon or demon zombie mermaid as Jupe describes her, Cady does her stuff and the ending is sweet.

I am really enjoying the Arcadia Bell series, I am looking forward to reading the final two books and finding out Cady's past in more depth and how this is going to impact on her life!

Great series so far!

[Anna (Bobs Her Hair) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5...Cute short story.

This story can't stand alone. The story picks up soon after book 2. Jupe 'knack' practice experiment and family sightseeing boat tour takes a nighmarish turn. A lesson is learned. Not much character development. Fun for fans of series only.

Next up: Binding the Shadows (book, #3). Yessss!

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novella that takes place between books 2 and 3. No major plot movement of course, but it was fun nonetheless. First time I've ever heard of a three headed zombie mermaid, hehe.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the biggest draw for me with this series is the relationships between the various main characters. Cady and Lon are... I don't know how to put it. I love the way they sink into one another and happily lean on the strengths of the other in a crisis. Lon rocks the father thing with Jupe. I honestly adore their dynamic and the resigned acceptance Lon has for Jupe's antics. Cady has the protective, growly mama bear thing for Jupe, but in a cool way. She treats him like he's hers and she'll do anything she can to keep him safe. Those three are like a complex, tangled knot - bound up, tied together, linked by threads only they can follow - and it makes me absolutely giddy to be in their world again.

This time around, the three of them pull Kar Yee, Cady's best friend and business partner, into their orbit and let her experience some of the dangerous joy that comes with hanging out with a mage, a demon, and a teenage boy who doesn't quite have a handle on his knack. Not going to lie, the Kar Yee/Jupe interactions were weirdly hilarious. I love that she can make him fall all over himself verbally with a few well placed endearments.

I can't get enough of these guys and their crazy shenanigans. If you've been following the series, this is a great look at a not-so-ordinary day in the life of Cady and her guys. If you haven't read any of the books yet, get thee hence and START READING! Jupe will charm your right out of your pants if you give him half a chance. No joke.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lon, Cady, Jupe and Kar Yee take a day trip on a boat so Lon can take some pictures and they can find a safe environment for Jupe to test his knack. Unfortunately, the Captain is a little strange and through a series of mishaps, they end up with a demon on board.

I really enjoy this series and this was a really nice but way too short story. My mind can't help but wonder if any of the little tidbits that were dropped will factor into anything in the future or if we're just given a cute, little story...nawwww.

[Negine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet slice of life visit with Cady, Lon and Jupe (along with Kar Yee)! Let me channel my inner Jupe and say "Diz-amn" I need more! Alas, I must be patient until May of 2013 for my next fix.

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

For me, this short story was like gravy on top of two, already delicious books; not essential but oh so good. The familial chemistry between Bennett’s characters in this series is undeniable and somehow manages to shine through even in a short novella like Leashing the Tempest.

Cady usually has much bigger fish to fry so it was fun to visit her during her rare downtime and to see her step-parenting skills in action. She’s definitely a good person to have at your back no matter how bizarre the problem is and in this case it’s pretty silly. What first starts off as an innocent little booboo on Jupe’s part quickly turns into a rather hairy situation and leaves the adults scrambling for a solution. I enjoyed the way that they all worked together in a time of crisis because a healthy family unit is rare in fiction so it’s always refreshing when an author shows that not all characters are dysfunctional in their personal lives. I love the humour that Jupe brings to this series; it’s a different variety than what I’m used to because of his age but his perspective on “grown-up” problems is one of the reasons why I love these books so much.

Leashing the Tempest is a fun little extra tacked on to an already fabulous series and just the thing I needed to tide me over until May 2013 when Binding the Shadows hits shelves.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Rating* 4.0

*Review*

On what is supposed to be a nice relaxing afternoon on a boat taking pictures and teaching 14 year old Jupiter “Jupe” Butler about his newfound knack; Arcadia "Cady" Bell, her Earthbound demon boyfriend Lon Butler, and Cady’s Tambuku Tiki Lounge co-owner and best friend Kar Yee end up getting more than they bargained for after Jupe makes a regrettable mistake with his knack. Throw in the Captain of the boat who has made more than a few bad promises and choices of his own, and you have a wonderful addition to the Arcadia Bell series.

Jenn Bennett really knows how to spin a story and her characters are not only likable, but they seriously kickass as well. There is romance, mystery and suspense, humor and banter between the characters that isn’t stretched to the imagination or limitations for the sake of making the book better.

“Leashing the Tempest” is a 65 page novella that takes place after the events of “Summoning the Night” and right before “Binding the Shadows.” Binding the Shadows is scheduled to be released on May 28, 2013. If you haven’t started this series yet, you should. You will find that Cady is one of the best new heroines in the Urban Fantasy arena today and her abilities as a magician change and grow by the novel.

*Recvd from Author!* Expected publication: December 17th 2012 by Pocket Star

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

“In other words, never tell someone they’re brainless when I’m using my knack.”
“No,” Lon corrected. “Never use it in anger.”
“Or carelessly,” I added.
“Just don’t use it at all,” Lon said gruffly.
Jupe grimaced. “I’m actually okay with that. But I do have one request.”
“What’s that?” Lon asked.
“Let’s forget about buying a boat.”
“Forgotten.”

I simply love Jupe and his outbursts!But that kid, lol, is really a disaster waiting to happen! lol
This time, Cady, Lon and Kar Yee find themselves into a bit of a mess because of Jupe's "knack"...oh boy!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love these characters. I do wish we had gotten more Kar Yee in this though since I feel like there's never enough of her in these books. Still Jupe and Cady and Lon are great and I forgot how much I missed them since binging this series earlier this year. I'm glad I discovered this novella and got to visit with them again. This is a nice but short addition to their stories stuck in between books 2 and 3. I'm not sure it's one that would really mean much to someone who hasn't read the previous books though but if you haven't read them yet, I definitely recommend them!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

{This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}

It’s no secret that Jenn Bennett’s Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorite urban fantasy series, up there with Patricia Briggs’ wonderful Mercy Thompson books. In fact, the two series share a lot of commonalities. Both are packed with memorable, multi-faceted characters, good humor and warmth.

The long wait between books in this series is mildly torturous (though, thankfully, each wraps up a complete story) but fortunately, Leashing the Tempest is a fun novella which fills the gap between Summoning the Night and the third book, Binding the Shadows (out May 2013).

Leashing the Tempest finds the series’ core characters—Arcadia (an extremely skilled magician with a complicated past), Lon (Cady’s older demon boyfriend), Jupe (Lon’s charming teenage son) and Kar Yee (Cady’s best friend and business partner)—on a day cruise on the Pacific coast near their hometown in northern California. The contained environment of the boat is the perfect chance to test Jupe’s newly-developed knack (his magical skill) on Kar Yee, who’s agreed to serve as a volunteer. (There’s an amusing ongoing story in the series of 13 year old Jupe’s crush on Kar Yee which adds to the already funny premise for fans of this series.)

Naturally, it being Cady and Lon, a day cruise can’t be just a ride on a boat, but instead an angry storm is unleashed and something’s suspicious about the boat’s captain. It’s up to Cady and Lon to save everyone on the boat and stop the magical force that’s ruined their day.

For fans of the Arcadia Bell series, Leashing the Tempest will seem familiar. There’s an easy banter in the dialog, a complex magical world, action, mystery and tough, but not invincible, characters. The structure and pace of this novella also reflect the series’ brisk pace and strong mystery elements.

Because this novella does exemplify what readers can expect from the Arcadia Bell series and because it only contains a tiny spoiler from the second novel (what Jupe’s knack is), I’d recommend it to people who want to dip into the series without committing to reading an entire book. And, since it’s just a 99 cent ebook (only) it’s a pretty cheap way to check out the series. I’ve been doing this a lot with lengthy urban fantasy series with fill-in novellas so I can taste test it with a quick evening read before committing.

The star of Leashing the Tempest really is Jupe, whose role in the series has become increasingly important as Cady and Lon’s relationship matures. I know he’s a favorite of fans of the Arcadia Bell series—this snippet as he’s getting ready to practice his knack on Kar Yee should help explain why.

“All right, Jupe. No dangerous dares. No intimate questions.”

Jupe’s face pinched. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means don’t ask anything creepy,” I translated.

“Like …” Jupe trailed off, a devilish look in his eye. Oh, God. Here we go. “Like, don’t ask about her safe word?”

“Safe word?” Kar Yee repeated. “What the hell is that?” Lon cursed under his breath.

“You know,” Jupe said, smiling one of his lazy smiles that brimmed with a delirious suggestiveness he only partly understood.

“Is that one of those whips and chains things?” Kar Yee said. Jupe nodded, eyes widening with sordid interest. “In case things get out of control.”

“No whips and chains,” Lon said, his patience wearing thin. “No safe words. Where the hell do you get these things?”

“Jack told me at school.” Jack. Jupe’s BFF. That shy little Godzilla-loving Earthbound was always taking about crazy stuff with him.

“He said everyone has them these days. Don’t you and Cady have one?”

Lon snorted. “Yeah, it’s a little word called ‘no.’ ”

“That’s it?”

“No need to complicate things.”

For fans of the Arcadia Bell series, this little ebook novella should be an auto-buy. I loved sinking back into these characters and their world and Leashing the Tempest made me even more excited for the third book. I was also intrigued by Jenn Bennett’s recent accouncement that she’s publishing a new paranormal series set in 1920s San Francisco—that’s pretty much a recipe for awesome, right?

Initial reaction:
This is a super fun novella and even though it takes place after book two of this series, I think it could be read on its own without ruining the earlier books. The cover is a giant pile of Photoshop WTFery, though--it really doesn't fit with the series.

[She-Wolf Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

LEASHING THE TEMPEST by Jenn Bennett was the perfect little novella for me. With the right length and perfect pacing, it gave me a taste of the characters and added some development to the series; it made me feel like I was back home, and then it whet my appetite for more.

The Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorites. And what makes it one of my favorites is Jenn Bennet’s ability to really capture the chemistry and camaraderie between Lon, Cady, and Jupe. I love it when writers give the characters moments to just shoot the shit. It makes them more real to me and gives a better understanding of why two characters are together or why they want to actually spend time with one another. Bennett always gives her characters these moments and they’re always pitch perfect. The banter between Jupe, Lon, Cady and Kar Yee made me laugh out loud; it made me want to be on that boat with them…well, until all hell breaks loose.

There is magic and mayhem; great dialogue and a sweet moment between Lon and Cady. We learn more about Jupe’s knack and spend more time with Kar Yee. This is a great novella for fans of the series who want more Cady and Co. and can’t wait for the May 2013 release of BINDING THE SHADOWS. I would even go so far as to say that readers new to the series, who would like a taste of Arcadia, could read this one and not be lost yet get a sense of the relationships, writing style, and magic that makes up the series as a whole.

Whether you start here or with KINDLING THE MOON, book one, you need to start somewhere – Arcadia Bell is one of the best. And you have until May to get ready for the new release. So, what are you waiting for?

This review is courtesy of SHE-WOLF READS.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leashing The Tempest is a short foray back into the magical world of Arcadia Bell that takes place in between full length books 2 and 3. Cady and Lon find themselves trying to take a day trip on a small day cruise in order test Jupe’s new found persuasion knack on Cady’s best friend and business partner Kar Yee. What starts out as a informational day quickly takes a turn south when Jupe’s knack knocks out the shifty boat captain and as a result unleashes something that seems to want to take over the ship.

While this was very short it was high octane from start to finish and I was bummed it was over so quickly. It focuses more on the interpersonal relationships between characters which is my most favorite part of this series. Sure there was plenty of action packed in there too, but the development of Lon and Cady, Cady and Jupe, and even Kar Yee is what I really crave. Bennett didn’t disappoint. Somehow over the course of these few books she’s made me insanely like a child character, which never ever happens. Usually I feel like they take up the space in between more important scenes. But not with Jupe. The energetic teenager is just so lovable, you can’t help but smile every time he pops up. Plus, he’s teaching Cady a valuable lesson as the series progresses…how to belong to a real family.

I adore everything about this series! For serious, if you like urban fantasy mixed with romance, this is definitely a series for you. I know I won’t EVER be getting rid of these. They will forever be on my keeper shelf for me to enjoy again and again! Bennett will entertain you and leave you wanting more!

I give Leashing The Tempest by Jenn Bennett 4 stars!

[Leanne Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short story/novella, this had everything that's included in Jenn Bennett's full length novels in this series; a mystery, some romance, and Jupe being Jupe :D

This was the boat trip from hell. Everything that could go wrong, did. Storms, demons, Jupe...

A great instalment in a series that I love. Straight onto book 3!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books, this writing, these characters SO MUCH. MORE MORE MORE.

I almost gave this five stars, but the conclusion made me a little uncomfortable. These men the captain is bringing? Do they have a choice here? I hope so.

Re-read April 2013

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short story. Jupe is testing his powers while they are out to sea and ends up doing something stupid in anger. That leads them into a bit more adventure than they were looking for.

A demonic zombie mermaid has been after the captain as he broke a deal with her

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little novella involving Cady, Lon, Jupe & Kar Yee taking a trip out to sea for Jupe to practice his knack. Of course, hijinks ensue. And, sorry, ***spoiler***, but YAY for zombie mermaids!!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, I can't wait for the next Cady book!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Amazon.com on Feb. 16, 2013. (What took me so long to finally read a full novel?!)

An entertaining series sample -- I'll definitely try these books!

I was debating trying this series, but there are so many new urban fantasies out there nowadays, they all tend to blur together and make it difficult to know which are worth trying. The sample chapter from book one (Kindling the Moon) at least showed that this author knew how to write (in the sense of vocab, syntax, etc.), and Cady & her world seemed promising, but I couldn't tell how well I'd like the story -- especially since Cady hasn't (or at least we haven't) even met Lon yet in that premise-setup scene, much less his son. So I decided to try this short, but whole, story, since it didn't cost that much. I'm glad I did!

Here we see not only an enjoyable and original take on a supernaturals-among-us world, but a realistic and likable group of protagonists, as a 3 hour "family" tour goes drastically wrong. (Did anyone else get retro TV reverberations?) I agree that Jupe is that rare non-YA fictional phenom: a teen one doesn't mind spending time reading about and getting to know. The story has both excitement and humor, and for those of you who (like me) haven't read either Kindling the Moon or Summoning the Night yet, this story is entirely readable without them. In short, I recommend it.

================================

I plan to read this novella again, in sequence, i.e., once I acquire and read book 2 (no doubt I'll promptly devour it).

[Katter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun little addition to the Arcadia Bell world! Lon and Cady want to have a peaceful family day where they can relax and also help Jupe learn about his knack in a controlled space, and then all hell breaks loose. It was suppose to be a day of learning and maybe getting some nice photo's of humpback whales.

If only they all knew what awaited them out at sea. This was original and fun and definitely enriched the main story by solidifying what makes Foxglove go nuts and start barking at the cliff side. Good stuff! I am so happy that I got this as it is totally worth the $0.99 price tag.

[Aki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick novella from the Arcadia Bell series. Jupe made a mistake telling a captain what he thought of him with his knack behind it.

Now, Kar-Yee, Jupe, Lon, and Cady are stuck on a boat, in two very bad storms, with a temporarily mindless captain and a very vengeful Rusalka after them.

I don't know much about Rusalka's aside from them being a water-being from Russia. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining read.

[Tessa Hamberlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I managed to not clue in that this was a novella until I was nearly done and was thinking "wow, this is wrapping up really quickly..." a good quick fun read!

[Blackpanther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieses kurze, magische Abenteuer auf einer Yacht, spielt zwischen Teil 2 u. 3. Im Vordergrund steht Jupiters neue Gabe u. auch Cady erprobt weiter ihre Mondmagie - Einfach super!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars